Hughes’ Dreams and Art

Poetry can be beautiful and confusing so take some time to draw out the words to assist with understanding through Art.

During a lesson highlighting Langston Hughes’ Dreams, we read the poem several times aloud then drew the scene of the broken-winged bird and barren field on the dry erase board. You can add more if you wish. We kept it simple.

Finally, we attacked the packet. After reading the poem and brainstorming the Art, students were able to answer the questions with ease. The pre-teaching made the material achievable.

Dreams by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.